Computer-readable recording medium, computer apparatus, and computer processing method

ABSTRACT

A program and computer apparatus to execute a method including: placing a rectangular parallelepiped object having a given attribute and a display mode according to the given attribute in a virtual space; identifying a first display mode of a face of a placed object which is not in contact with a different placed object according to an attribute of the placed object; identifying, with respect to at least one of a plurality of placed objects which are adjacent to each other and have different attributes, a second display mode of a face thereof which is not in contact with the different placed object according to an attribute of the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placed object; and drawing, for displaying a placed object on a display screen, according to any one of the first display mode identified and the second display mode identified.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a continuation application of the pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/355,402, filed on Nov. 18, 2016, whichclaims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-228181, filedon Nov. 20, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium, acomputer apparatus, and a computer processing method.

Description of Related Art

In the related art, a sandbox type game in which a player can move anobject in a virtual space, generate and place a new object, remove anobject to freely make a building, or change a terrain is known. In asandbox type game, as an object which is a target for movement orplacement, a cubic object may be adopted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

However, it is found that among cubic objects, for example, in a casewhere a “rock” object is placed to be adjacent to a “grass” object, aboundary line between the “rock” and “grass” becomes a straight line,which looks unnatural. In a case where objects having differentattributes are placed to be adjacent to each other, a boundary linebetween the objects becomes a straight line, which results inincompatibility in a terrain.

An object of at least one embodiment of the invention is to provide arecording medium, a computer apparatus, and an execution method capableof display in which a boundary line between adjacent objects becomesnatural.

Solution to Problem

According to a non-limiting aspect, a non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium having recorded thereon a program which is executed ina computer apparatus that causes the computer apparatus to function as:an object placer that places a rectangular parallelepiped object havinga given attribute and a display mode according to the given attribute ina virtual space; a first display mode identifier that identifies adisplay mode of a face of a placed object which is not in contact with adifferent placed object according to an attribute of the placed object;a second display mode identifier that identifies, with respect to atleast one of a plurality of placed objects which are adjacent to eachother and have different attributes, a display mode of a face thereofwhich is not in contact with a different placed object according to anattribute of the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placedobject; and a drawer that performs drawing for displaying a placedobject on a display screen, according to a display mode identified bythe first display mode identifier and a display mode identified by thesecond display mode identifier, wherein the second display modeidentifier preferentially performs execution with respect to the firstdisplay mode identifier.

According to a non-limiting aspect, a computer apparatus including: anobject placer that places a rectangular parallelepiped object having agiven attribute and a display mode according to the given attribute in avirtual space; a first display mode identifier that identifies a displaymode of a face of a placed object which is not in contact with adifferent placed object according to an attribute of the placed object;a second display mode identifier that identifies, with respect to atleast one of a plurality of placed objects which are adjacent to eachother and have different attributes, a display mode of a face thereofwhich is not in contact with a different placed object according to anattribute of the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placedobject; and a drawer that performs drawing for displaying a placedobject on a display screen, according to a display mode identified bythe first display mode identifier and a display mode identified by thesecond display mode identifier, wherein the second display modeidentifier preferentially performs execution with respect to the firstdisplay mode identifier.

According to a non-limiting aspect, an execution method executed in acomputer apparatus, including: an object placing step of placing arectangular parallelepiped object having a given attribute and a displaymode according to the given attribute in a virtual space; a firstdisplay mode identifying step of identifying a display mode of a face ofa placed object which is not in contact with a different placed objectaccording to an attribute of the placed object; a second display modeidentifying step of identifying, with respect to at least one of aplurality of placed objects which are adjacent to each other and havedifferent attributes, a display mode of a face thereof which is not incontact with a different placed object according to an attribute of theplaced object and an attribute of an adjacent placed object; and adrawing step of performing drawing for displaying a placed object on adisplay screen, according to a display mode identified in the firstdisplay mode identifying step and a display mode identified in thesecond display mode identifying step, wherein the second display modeidentifying step preferentially performs execution with respect to thefirst display mode identifying step.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

One or more of the above problems can be solved with each embodiment ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computerapparatus, corresponding to at least one of embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a program execution process, corresponding toat least one of the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computerapparatus, corresponding to at least one of embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a program execution process, corresponding toat least one of the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an object master table, corresponding to atleast one of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a texture master table, corroding to atleast one of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a texture attached to an object,corresponding to at least one of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram relating to attachment of textures for objects,corresponding to at least one of embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, descriptionrelating to effects shows an aspect of the effects of the embodiments ofthe invention, and does not limit the effects. Further, the order ofrespective processes that form a flowchart described below may bechanged in a range without contradicting or creating discord with theprocessing contents thereof.

First Embodiment

An outline of a first embodiment of the invention will be described.FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computerapparatus corresponding to at least one of embodiments of the invention.A computer apparatus 1 includes at least an object placing section 101,a first display mode identifying section 102, a second display modeidentifying section 103, and a drawing section 104.

The object placing section 101 has a function of placing a rectangularparallelepiped object having a given attribute and a display modeaccording to the given attribute in a virtual space. The first displaymode identifying section 102 has a function of identifying a displaymode of a face of a placed object which is not in contact with adifferent placed object according to an attribute of the placed object.

The second display mode identifying section 103 has a function ofidentifying, with respect to at least one of plural placed objects whichare adjacent to each other and have different attributes, a display modeof a face thereof which is not in contact with a different placed objectaccording to an attribute of the placed object and an attribute of anadjacent placed object. The drawing section 104 has a function ofperforming drawing for displaying a placed object on a display screen,according to a display mode identified by the first display modeidentifying section 102 and a display mode identified by the seconddisplay mode identifying section 103.

A program execution process according to the first embodiment of theinvention will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a programexecution process corresponding to at least one of embodiments of theinvention.

The computer apparatus 1 places a rectangular parallelepiped objecthaving a given attribute and a display mode according to the givenattribute in a virtual space (step S1). The computer apparatus 1identifies a display mode of a face of a placed object which is not incontact with a different placed object, according to the attribute ofthe placed object (step S2).

The computer apparatus 1 identifies, with respect to at least one ofplural placed objects which are adjacent to each other and havedifferent attributes, a display mode of a face thereof which is not incontact with a different placed object according to an attribute of theplaced object and an attribute of an adjacent placed object (step S3).Then, the computer apparatus 1 performs drawing for displaying theplaced object on a display screen according to the display modeidentified by the first display mode identifier and the display modeidentified by the second display mode identifier (step S4), andterminates the procedure.

In the first embodiment, the second display mode identifierpreferentially performs execution with respect to the first display modeidentifier.

According to an aspect of the first embodiment, it is possible toperform display so that a boundary line between adjacent objects becomesnatural.

In the first embodiment, the “computer apparatus” refers to a desktoptype or notebook type personal computer, a tablet computer, a PDA, orthe like, for example, and may be a mobile terminal in which a displayscreen includes a touch panel sensor. The “virtual space” refers to avirtual space on a computer or a network, for example, which means aspace in a game.

The “attribute” refers to an attribute or characteristic that belongs toa certain object, for example. The “object” refers to a tangible objectthat can be placed in a virtual space, for example. The “display screen”refers to an image displayed on a movie screen or a TV picture tube, forexample. The “drawing” refers to a process of generating an image, forexample.

Second Embodiment

Next, an outline of a second embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. A configuration of a computer apparatus according to thesecond embodiment may adopt the same configuration as in the blockdiagram of FIG. 1.

The computer apparatus 1 includes at least the object placing section101, the first display mode identifying section 102, the second displaymode identifying section 103, and the drawing section 104.

The object placing section 101 has a function of placing a rectangularparallelepiped object having a given attribute and a display modeaccording to the given attribute in a virtual space. The first displaymode identifying section 102 has a function of identifying a displaymode of a face of a placed object which is not in contact with adifferent placed object according to an attribute of the placed object.

A priority relating to which placed object among adjacent placed objectshas its display mode identified is set for each attribute, and thesecond display mode identifying section 103 has a function ofidentifying, with respect to a display mode of a placed object having anattribute of a low priority among placed objects which are adjacent toeach other, a display mode of a face thereof which is not in contactwith a different placed object according to the attribute of the placedobject and an attribute of an adjacent placed object. The drawingsection 104 has a function of performing drawing for displaying a placedobject on the display screen according to the display mode identified bythe first display mode identifying section 102 and the display modeidentified by the second display mode identifying section 103.

A program execution process according to the second embodiment of theinvention will be described. A flowchart of the program executionprocess in the second embodiment may adopt the same configuration as inthe flowchart in FIG. 1.

The computer apparatus 1 places a rectangular parallelepiped objecthaving a given attribute and a display mode according to the givenattribute in a virtual space (step S1). The computer apparatus 1identifies a display mode of a face of a placed object, which is not incontact with a different placed object, according to the attribute ofthe placed object (step S2).

The computer apparatus 1 identifies, with respect to a display mode of aplaced object having a low priority attribute among placed objects whichare adjacent to each other, a display mode of a face thereof which isnot in contact with a different placed object according to an attributeof the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placed object (stepS3). Then, the computer apparatus 1 performs drawing for displaying theplaced object on a display screen according to the display modeidentified by the first display mode identifier and the display modeidentified by the second display mode identifier (step S4), andterminates the procedure.

In the second embodiment, the second display mode identifierpreferentially performs execution with respect to the first display modeidentifier.

According to an aspect of the second embodiment, it is possible toperform display so that a boundary line between adjacent objects becomesnatural.

In the second embodiment, the “computer apparatus”, the “virtual space”,the “attribute”, the “object”, the “display screen”, and the “drawing”are the same as the contents disclosed in the first embodiment,respectively.

Third Embodiment

Next, an outline of a third embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. FIG. 3 is block diagram illustrating a configuration of acomputer apparatus according to at least one of embodiments of theinvention. A computer apparatus 1 includes at least a control section11, a random access memory (RAM) 12, a storage 13, a sound processingsection 14, a graphics processing section 15, a DVD/CD-ROM drive 16, acommunication interface 17, and an interface section 18, which areconnected to each other through an internal bus.

The control section 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and aROM (read only memory). The control section 11 executes a program storedin the storage 13 or a recording medium 24 to control the computerapparatus 1. Further, the control section 11 includes an internal timerthat clocks time. The RAM 12 is a work area of the control section 11.The storage 13 is a storage area for storing a program or data.

The DVD/CD-ROM drive 16 is a unit in which the recording medium 24 onwhich a program is stored such as a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM can be mounted.For example, a program and data are stored on the recording medium 24.The program and data are read from the recording medium 24 by theDVD/CD-ROM drive 16, and are loaded into the RAM 12.

The control section 11 reads the program and data from the RAM 12 andperforms a process. The control section 11 processes the program anddata loaded in the RAM 12 to output a sound output instruction to thesound processing section 14, and to output a drawing command to thegraphics processing section 15.

The sound processing section 14 is connected to a sound output device 21which is a speaker. If the control section 11 outputs a sound outputinstruction to the sound processing section 14, the sound processingsection 14 outputs a sound signal to the sound output device 21.

The graphics processing section 15 is connected to a display device 22.The display device 22 includes a display screen 23. If the controlsection 11 outputs a drawing command to the graphics processing section15, the graphics processing section 15 develops an image into a videomemory (frame buffer) 19, and outputs a video signal for displaying theimage on the display screen 23. The graphics processing section 15executes drawing for one image in the unit of frames. One frame time ofthe image is 1/30 seconds, for example. The graphics processing section15 has a function of receiving a part of a computational processrelating to the drawing performed only by the control section 11 todisperse a load of an entire system.

The input section 20 (for example, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like) maybe connected to the interface section 18. Information input through theinput section 20 from a user is stored in the RAM 12, and the controlsection 11 executes a variety of computational processes based on theinput information. Alternatively, a configuration in which a storagemedium reading device is connected to the interface section 18 and aprogram, data or the like is read from a memory or the like may be used.Further, the display device 22 that includes a touch panel may be usedas the input section 20.

The communication interface 17 may be connected to a communicationnetwork 2 in a wireless or wired manner, and may perform transmissionand reception of information with other computer apparatuses through thecommunication network 2.

Next, a program execution process in the third embodiment of theinvention will be described. The program execution process is executedin the control section 11. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a program executionprocess corresponding to at least one of embodiments of the invention.

First, plural objects are placed in a virtual space (step S11). Pluralparallelepiped virtual boxes that have the same shapes and sizes and arerespectively aligned in three axial directions orthogonal to each otherare set in the virtual space. The placed objects have the same shapesand sizes as those of the virtual boxes. The objects are placed to matchthe shapes of the virtual boxes.

Until all the objects placed in the virtual space are completelyprocessed, processes of steps S11 to S24 are repeatedly executed. First,a processing target object is identified (step S12). Then, a priority(A) of the identified processing target object is read from an objectmaster table in the RAM 12 or the storage 13 (step S13).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an object master table corresponding to atleast one of embodiments of the invention. In an object master table 30,an object attribute 32, an object type 33, and a priority 34 are storedin association with an object ID 31. In step S13, the priority (A) isidentified from the object ID 31 corresponding to a processing targetobject.

However, any one attribute among plural attributes 32 such as “soil”,“grass”, “water” or “sand” is set for an object, for example. Further,even with respect to the same attribute 32, plural types of objects areprepared. For example, as objects of the “soil” attribute 32, a “soil”object, a “clay” object, and a “rock” object are present. Even in thesame attribute, since display modes of objects vary according to types33, it is possible to provide variations in displays of objects.

Since one object includes six faces, but until all the faces arecompletely processed, the processes of steps S14 to S22 are repeatedlyexecuted. First, any one face among the six faces of a processing targetobject is identified as a processing target face (step S14).

Then, it is determined whether the processing target face is not incontact with a different object (step S15). Since virtual boxes have thesame shapes and sizes and are respectively aligned in three axialdirections orthogonal to each other and an object is placed to match theshape of each virtual boxes, in a case where two objects are adjacentlyplaced, one face among six faces of one object is in a state of being incontact with a face of the other object, which cannot be visuallyrecognized from the outside. Thus, a display mode of only the face whichis not in contact with the face of the other object is identified.

In step S15, in a case where it is determined that the processing targetface is not in non-contact with the other object, that is, it isdetermined that the processing target face is in contact with the otherobject (NO in step S15), the processing target face transitions to thenext face (step S23), the processes of steps S14 to S22 are executedwith respect to the next processing target face.

On the other hand, it is determined in step S15 that the processingtarget face is not in contact with the other object (YES in step S15),and the processes of steps S16 to S19 are executed. Until the processesare completed with respect to objects adjacent to the processing targetobject, the processes of steps S16 to S19 are repeatedly executed.

The number of adjacent processing target objects in steps S16 to S19 ismaximum four. For example, in a case where an object is cubic and aprocessing target face is square, the number of adjacent objects capableof sharing respective faces that form the processing target face ismaximum four. The adjacent objects that share the respective faces ofthe processing target face become processing targets of steps S16 toS19. In a case where there is no adjacent processing target object, theprocedure proceeds to step S20 without executing the processes of stepS16 to S19.

First, a priority (B) of an adjacent processing target object is readfrom the object master table in the RAM 12 or the storage 13 (step S16).Then, it is determined whether the priority (A) read in step S13 islarger than the priority (B) read in step S16 (step S17).

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, in a case where an object ID of aprocessing target object is “Obj-001” and an object ID of an adjacentobject is “Obj-004”, since the priority (A) is “2” and the priority (B)is “3”, it is determined that the priority (B) is larger than thepriority (A). Further, for example, in a case where an object ID of aprocessing target object is “Obj-001” and an object ID of an adjacentobject is “Obj-007”, since the priority (A) is “2” and the priority (B)is “0”, it is determined that the priority (A) is larger than thepriority (B).

In a case where it is determined that the priority (B) is larger thanthe priority (A) (YES in step S17), a change flag is set (step S18). Ifthe change flag is set, the procedure proceeds to the processes for thenext adjacent object (step S19), and the processes from step S16 arestarted. On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that thepriority (B) is not larger than the priority (A), that is, in a casewhere it is determined that the priority (A) is the same as the priority(B), or in a case where the priority (A) is larger than the priority (B)(NO in step S17), the procedure proceeds to the processes for the nextadjacent object without setting the change flag (step S19).

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the priority(B) is not larger than the priority (A), that is, in a case where it isdetermined that the priority (A) is the same as the priority (B), or ina case where the priority (A) is larger than the priority (B) (NO instep S17), the procedure proceeds to the processes for the next adjacentobject without setting the change flag (step S19).

If the processes of steps S16 to S19 are completed with respect to allthe adjacent processing target objects, the procedure proceeds to stepS20 and thereafter. First, it is determined whether a change flag is setwith respect to a processing target face (step S20).

In step S18, in a case where a change flag is not set through prioritycomparison with a certain adjacent object (NO in step S20), a texturecorresponding to an attribute of a processing target object isidentified as a first display mode according to a texture master table,the identified texture is attached to the processing target face (stepS22).

As a case considered as a case where a change flag is not set, forexample, there is a case where there is no object adjacent to aprocessing target object, or a case where even if there is an adjacentobject, the adjacent object is not an object having a higher prioritycompared with that of the processing target object. In such a case, atexture according to an attribute of the processing target object isattached to a processing target face, regardless of an attribute of theadjacent object. Further, when expressing an artifact, there is a casewhere a user wants to more clearly express a boundary of objects. Insuch a case, a special setting for preventing a change flag from beingset in an object may be performed.

In step S22, different textures may be attached according to whether aprocessing target face is an upper or lower face parallel to ahorizontal direction in a virtual space or a side face perpendicular tothe horizontal direction. In this way, even in the same object, byperforming suitable display according to whether a processing targetface is an upper or lower face, or a side face, it is possible toperform realistic object display.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a texture master table corroding to at leastone of embodiments of the invention. For example, an object ID 42, anobject attribute 43, an adjacent object type 44, and texture data 45 arestored in association with a texture ID 41 in a texture master table 40shown in FIG. 6.

In step S22, since a texture corresponding to an object is identified asa display mode, a texture in which the adjacent object type 44 in thetexture master table 40 is set to “none” is adopted. For example, in acase where the object ID 42 of a processing target object is “Obj-001”,texture data of “soil” corresponding to a texture ID “txt0001” isattached to a processing target face, and in a case where the object ID42 of a processing target object is “Obj-004”, texture data of “grassfield” corresponding to a texture ID “txt0101” is attached to aprocessing target face.

On the other hand, in step S18, in a case where the change flag is setthrough the priority comparison with the certain adjacent object (YES instep 20), textures corresponding to a processing target object and anadjacent are identified as second display modes according to a texturemaster table, and the identified texture is attached to the processingtarget face (step S21).

In step S21, since textures corresponding to a processing target objectand an adjacent object are identified as display modes, textures to beattached are identified by referring to the texture master table 40according to the types of an object of a processing target face and anadjacent object which is based on setting of a change flag.

For example, in a case where the object ID 42 of the processing targetobject is “Obj-001” and the adjacent object which is based on thesetting of the change flag is “grass field”, texture data of “soil,grass field” corresponding to a texture ID “txt0002” is attached to theprocessing target face. Further, in a case where the object ID 42 of theprocessing target object is “Obj-001” and adjacent objects which arebased on the setting of the change flag are “grass field” and “grassfield” (that is, in a case where two adjacent objects are present andtheir types are all “grass field”), texture data of “soil, grass field,grass field” corresponding to a texture ID “txt0103” is attached to theprocessing target face.

For example, it is preferable that the texture data “soil, grass field”,and the texture data “soil, grass field, grass field” are attached tothe processing target face in a case where the type of a processingtarget object is “soil” and the type of an adjacent object is “grassfield”, and that a most part of the texture corresponds to displaycontent relating to “soil” corresponding to the type of the processingtarget object, and the remaining part corresponds to display contentrelating to “grass field” corresponding to the type of the adjacentobject.

By displaying the processing target face in this way, it is possible toperform display so that the object gradually changes from “soil” to“grass field”. Further, a design may be performed so that the influenceof adjacent objects becomes stronger in the texture “soil, grass field,grass field” used in a case where more change flags are set, comparedwith that in the texture “soil, grass field”, and so that the amount ofdisplay content relating to the “grass field” becomes larger.

In a case where an object is cubic, a processing target face is square,and a texture to be attached is also square. For example, in the case ofthe texture data “soil⋅grass field”, display content relating to the“grass field” may be assigned to only the vicinity of one square side ofthe texture, and display content relating to “soil” corresponding to thetype of the processing target object may be assigned to the remainingmost part thereof.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a texture attached to an objectcorresponding to at least one of embodiments of the invention. As shownin FIG. 7, a processing target object 50 is adjacent to an adjacentobject 55. The processing target object 50 is an object relating to“soil”, and the adjacent object 55 is an object relating to “grassfield”. Among processing target faces 51, a display 52 relating to“grass field” is displayed to have a linear shape and a width that isslightly changed, and among the processing target faces 51, parts otherthan the display 52 relating to “grass field” are occupied by a display53 relating to “soil”.

By displaying the processing target face in this way, it is possible todisplay a terrain without discomfort while preventing a boundary linebetween objects from being linearly formed. In this case, a texture isattached so that display content relating to the “grass field” of theprocessing target object is in contact with an adjacent object which isbased on setting of a change flag.

In step S21 or S22, if a display mode of a processing target face isidentified and the identified texture is attached to the processingtarget face, the processing target face transitions to the next face(step S23), and the processes of steps S14 to S22 are executed for thenext processing target face.

If the processes are completed with respect to all the faces of theobject, the processing target object transitions to the next object(step S24), and the processes of steps S12 to S23 are executed for thenext processing target object. If the processes of steps S12 to S23 areexecuted with respect to all the objects placed in the virtual space, aprocess of perspective transforming the inside of the virtual space anddrawing a generated image using the graphics processor 15 is executed(step S25).

According to an aspect of the third embodiment, since a display mode ofa face of an object which is not in contact with a different object isidentified according to a combination of an attribute of the object andan attribute of an adjacent object which is adjacent to the object, itis possible to perform display so that the attribute of the objectgradually changes, and thus, it is possible to display a terrain due tothe object without discomfort.

According to an aspect of the third embodiment, since a display mode foridentifying a display mode of a face which is not in contact with adifferent object includes display content according to an attribute ofan object, and display content according to an attribute of a placedobject adjacent to the object, it is possible to display a terrainwithout discomfort while preventing a boundary line between the objectsfrom being linearly formed.

According to an aspect of the third embodiment, since an arbitrarydisplay mode corresponding to an attribute of an object among pluraldisplay modes is identified as a display mode of a face of an objectwhich is not in contact with a different object, it is possible todisplay an object in plural display modes even when an attribute thereofis the same, and thus, it is possible to perform realistic objectdisplay.

According to an aspect of the third embodiment, since a display mode isidentified according to whether a face of an object which is not incontact with a different object is an upper or lower face parallel to ahorizontal direction in a virtual space or a side face perpendicular tothe horizontal direction, it is possible to make a display modedifferent according to whether a processing target face is an upper orlower face, or a side face even in the same object, and thus, it ispossible to perform realistic object display.

In the third embodiment, the “computer apparatus”, the “virtual space”,the “attribute”, the “object”, the “display screen”, and the “drawing”are the same as the contents disclosed in the first embodiment,respectively. In the third embodiment, the “texture” is an image forexpressing a color or pattern of a face of an object, for example.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, an outline of a fourth embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. A configuration of a computer apparatus according to thefourth embodiment may adopt the same configuration as in the blockdiagram of FIG. 3. Further, in the fourth embodiment, a flowchart of aprogram execution process may adopt the same flowchart as that shown inFIG. 4, except for a part thereof.

In the third embodiment, a configuration in which in a case where anobject having a different attribute is placed to be adjacent to aprocessing target object, a display mode of a face of the processingtarget object which is not in contact with a different object isidentified according to the processing target object and the adjacentobject is shown, but for example, the invention may be similarly appliedto a case where an adjacent object is not placed. That is, a case wherethere is no adjacent object may be handled as a case where a transparentobject is placed in a virtual box adjacent to a processing targetobject.

In the flowchart of FIG. 4, processes of steps S11 to S14 are the sameas in the third embodiment. Determination in step S15 is not performed,and a process of step S16 is executed after performing the process ofstep S14.

In step S16, a priority (B) of a transparent object adjacent to aprocessing target object is read from the object master table in the RAM12 or the storage 13. Alternatively, the priority of the transparentobject may be determined in advance to be larger than that of otherobjects.

Then, it is determined whether the priority (A) of the processing targetobject read in step S13 is larger than the priority (B) read in step S16(step S17). Normally, the priority (B) of the transparent object is setto be larger than the priority (A) of the processing target object. In acase where it is determined that the priority (B) is larger than thepriority (A) (YES in step S17), a change flag is set (step S18). If thechange flag is set, the procedure proceeds to the processes for the nextadjacent object (step S19), and the processes from step S16 are started.

If the processes of steps S16 to S19 are completed with respect to allthe processing target adjacent objects, the procedure proceeds to stepS20 and thereafter. First, it is determined whether a change flag is setwith respect to a processing target face (step S20). In a case where achange flag is set based on an adjacent transparent object (YES in stepS20), a texture corresponding to the transparent object adjacent to theprocessing target object is identified as a second display modeaccording to the texture master table, and the identified texture isattached to the processing target face (step S21).

In a case where an object is cubic, a processing target face is square,and a texture to be attached is also square. For example, in a casewhere the type of a processing target object is “soil”, a colordifferent from a color of “soil” may be displayed with respect to onlythe vicinity of one side of the square of the texture, and displaycontent relating to “soil” corresponding to the type of the processingtarget object may be assigned to the remaining most part thereof.

In this case, it is possible to display a color different from a colorof “soil” along one side of the square. By displaying the processingtarget face in this way, in a case where a processing target object isadjacent to a transparent object, it is possible to display a contour ofthe processing target object.

In the fourth embodiment, a case where there is no adjacent object or acase where an adjacent object is a transparent object will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams relating to attachment of textures forobjects corresponding to at least one of embodiments of the invention.FIGS. 8A and 8B are images obtained from a viewpoint of a virtual camerathat is present in a virtual space, which shows an example of a grassfield in the virtual space. Here, steps generated due to placed objectscan be confirmed.

FIG. 8A is an image before a texture in the above-described step S21 isattached. On the other hand, FIG. 8B is an image after the texture instep S21 is attached. As shown in FIG. 8A, in a case where the sametypes of objects are placed, there is a problem in that a user cannotrecognize that steps are present according to an angle of the virtualcamera. However, as shown in FIG. 8B, by attaching textures, even in acase where steps are generated due to placement of the same types ofobjects, a user can clearly recognize the steps, which is advantageous.Particularly, such a configuration is useful in a game in which the sametypes of objects are placed and a viewpoint of a virtual camera can befreely moved, such as a sandbox type game.

According to an aspect of the fourth embodiment, even in a case wherethere is no object in a virtual box adjacent to a processing targetobject (in a case where a transparent object is placed in an adjacentvirtual box), by setting a display mode of the processing target objectto a different display mode, it is similarly possible to displaycontours of the objects. Even in a case where the same types of objectshaving different distances from a viewpoint are displayed in anoverlapping manner, it is possible to visually recognize a difference ofthe objects. Thus, it is possible to display the objects with highvisibility without performing a process having a large load such asshading.

In the fourth embodiment, the “computer apparatus”, the “virtual space”,the “attribute”, the “object”, the “display screen”, and the “drawing”are the same as the contents disclosed in the first embodiment,respectively. In the fourth embodiment, the “texture” is an image forexpressing a color or pattern of a face of an object, for example. Itshould be noted that the “transparent object” means a concept includinga case where a transparent object is placed, and a case where an objectis not placed in a virtual object adjacent to a processing targetobject.

APPENDIX

The above-described embodiments are disclosed so that those skilled inthe art can realize the following inventions.

[1] A program executed in a computer apparatus that causes the computerapparatus to function as:

an object placer that places a rectangular parallelepiped object havinga given attribute and a display mode according to the given attribute ina virtual space;

a first display mode identifier that identifies a display mode of a faceof a placed object which is not in contact with a different placedobject according to an attribute of the placed object;

a second display mode identifier that identifies, with respect to atleast one of a plurality of placed objects which are adjacent to eachother and have different attributes, a display mode of a face thereofwhich is not in contact with a different placed object according to anattribute of the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placedobject; and

a drawer that performs drawing for displaying a placed object on adisplay screen, according to a display mode identified by the firstdisplay mode identifier and a display mode identified by the seconddisplay mode identifier,

wherein the second display mode identifier preferentially performsexecution with respect to the first display mode identifier.

[2] The program according to [1],

wherein a priority relating to which placed object among placed objectswhich are adjacent to each other has its display mode identified is setfor each attribute, and

wherein the second display mode identifier identifies a display mode ofa placed object having an attribute of a low priority among the placedobjects which are adjacent to each other.

[3] The program according to [1] or [2], causing the computer apparatusto further function as:

a second display mode storage that stores a display mode of a face whichis not in contact with a different placed object, identified by thesecond display mode identifier,

wherein the second display mode storage stores a display mode foridentifying the display mode of the face which is not in contact withthe different placed object for each combination of an attribute of aplaced object which is a display mode identification target in thesecond display identifier and an attribute of a placed object adjacentto the placed object as the target, and

the second display identifier identifies a display mode of a face of theplaced object which is not in contact with the different placed objectaccording to the combination of the attribute of the placed object andthe attribute of the placed object adjacent to the former placed object.

[4] The program according to [3],

wherein the display mode for identifying the display mode of the facewhich is not in contact with the different placed object, stored in thesecond display mode storage includes display content according to theattribute of the placed object which is the display mode identificationtarget and display content according to the attribute of the placedobject adjacent to the former placed object.

[5] The program according to any one of [1] to [4], causing the computerapparatus to further function as:

a first display mode storage that stores a plurality of display modesfor each attribute of an object as a display mode of a face which is notin contact with a different placed object,

wherein the first display mode identifier identifies an arbitrarydisplay mode corresponding to an attribute of a placed object among theplurality of display modes stored in the first display mode storage asthe display mode of the face of the placed object which is not incontact with the different placed object.

[6] The program according to any one of [1] to [5],

wherein the first display mode storage stores a display mode of an upperor lower face parallel to a horizontal direction in the virtual spaceand a display mode of a side face perpendicular to the horizontaldirection, for each attribute of an object, as the display mode of theface which is not in contact with the different placed object, and

wherein the first display mode identifier identifies a display modeaccording to whether the face of the placed object which is not incontact with the different placed object is the upper or lower faceparallel to the horizontal direction in the virtual space, or the sideface perpendicular to the horizontal direction, based on the displaymodes of the upper or lower face and the side face stored in the firstdisplay mode storage.

[7] A computer apparatus including:

an object placer that places a rectangular parallelepiped object havinga given attribute and a display mode according to the given attribute ina virtual space;

a first display mode identifier that identifies a display mode of a faceof a placed object which is not in contact with a different placedobject according to an attribute of the placed object;

a second display mode identifier that identifies, with respect to atleast one of a plurality of placed objects which are adjacent to eachother and have different attributes, a display mode of a face thereofwhich is not in contact with a different placed object according to anattribute of the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placedobject; and

a drawer that performs drawing for displaying a placed object on adisplay screen, according to a display mode identified by the firstdisplay mode identifier and a display mode identified by the seconddisplay mode identifier,

wherein the second display mode identifier preferentially performsexecution with respect to the first display mode identifier.

[8] An execution method executed in a computer apparatus, including:

an object placing step of placing a rectangular parallelepiped objecthaving a given attribute and a display mode according to the givenattribute in a virtual space;

a first display mode identifying step of identifying a display mode of aface of a placed object which is not in contact with a different placedobject according to an attribute of the placed object;

a second display mode identifying step of identifying, with respect toat least one of a plurality of placed objects which are adjacent to eachother and have different attributes, a display mode of a face thereofwhich is not in contact with a different placed object according to anattribute of the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placedobject; and

a drawing step of performing drawing for displaying a placed object on adisplay screen, according to a display mode identified in the firstdisplay mode identifying step and a display mode identified in thesecond display mode identifying step,

wherein the second display mode identifying step preferentially performsexecution with respect to the first display mode identifying step.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium having recorded thereon a program which is executed ina computer apparatus that causes the computer apparatus to execute:placing a rectangular parallelepiped object having a given attribute anda display mode according to the given attribute in a virtual space;identifying a first display mode of a face of a placed object which isnot in contact with a different placed object according to an attributeof the placed object; identifying, with respect to at least one of aplurality of placed objects which are adjacent to each other and havedifferent attributes, a second display mode of a face thereof which isnot in contact with the different placed object according to anattribute of the placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placedobject; and drawing, for displaying a placed object on a display screen,according to any one of the first display mode identified and the seconddisplay mode identified.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium according to claim 1, causing the computer apparatus tofurther execute: determining whether the identifying of the seconddisplay mode is performed based on the attribute of the placed objectand the attribute of the adjacent placed object, wherein, when it isdetermined that the identifying of the second display mode is performed,the display mode of the face thereof which is not in contact with thedifferent placed object is identified by only the identifying of thesecond display mode.
 3. The non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium according to claim 1, causing the computer apparatus to furtherexecute: storing a display mode of a face which is not in contact with adifferent placed object, identified by the second display modeidentifier, wherein the storing further stores a display mode foridentifying the display mode of the face which is not in contact withthe different placed object for each combination of an attribute of aplaced object which is a display mode identification target in theidentifying of the second display mode and an attribute of a placedobject adjacent to the placed object as the target, and wherein theidentifying of the second display mode includes identifying identifieridentifies a display mode of a face of the placed object which is not incontact with the different placed object according to the combination ofthe attribute of the placed object and the attribute of the placedobject adjacent to a former placed object.
 4. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay mode for identifying the display mode of the face which is notin contact with the different placed object, includes display contentaccording to the attribute of the placed object which is the displaymode identification target and display content according to theattribute of the placed object adjacent to a former placed object. 5.The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim1, causing the computer apparatus to further execute: storing aplurality of display modes for each attribute of an object as a displaymode of a face which is not in contact with a different placed object,wherein the identifying of the first display mode includes identifyingan arbitrary display mode corresponding to an attribute of a placedobject among the plurality of display modes stored as the display modeof the face of the placed object which is not in contact with thedifferent placed object.
 6. The non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium according to claim 1, causing the computer apparatus tofurther execute: storing a display mode of an upper or lower faceparallel to a horizontal direction in the virtual space and a displaymode of a side face perpendicular to the horizontal direction, for eachattribute of an object, as the display mode of the face which is not incontact with the different placed object, wherein the identifying of thefirst display mode includes identifying a display mode according towhether the face of the placed object which is not in contact with thedifferent placed object is the upper or lower face parallel to thehorizontal direction in the virtual space, or the side faceperpendicular to the horizontal direction, based on the display modes ofthe upper or lower face and the side face stored in the storing.
 7. Acomputer apparatus comprising: a processor that executes: placing arectangular parallelepiped object having a given attribute and a displaymode according to the given attribute in a virtual space, identifying afirst display mode of a face of a placed object which is not in contactwith a different placed object according to an attribute of the placedobject, and identifying, with respect to at least one of a plurality ofplaced objects which are adjacent to each other and have differentattributes, a second display mode of a face thereof which is not incontact with the different placed object according to an attribute ofthe placed object and an attribute of an adjacent placed object; and agraphics processor that executes drawing, for displaying a placed objecton a display screen, according to any one of the first display modeidentified and the second display mode identified.
 8. A computerprocessing method executed in a computer apparatus, comprising: placing,by a processor, a rectangular parallelepiped object having a givenattribute and a display mode according to the given attribute in avirtual space; identifying, by the processor, a first display mode of aface of a placed object which is not in contact with a different placedobject according to an attribute of the placed object; identifying, bythe processor and with respect to at least one of a plurality of placedobjects which are adjacent to each other and have different attributes,a second display mode of a face thereof which is not in contact with adifferent placed object according to an attribute of the placed objectand an attribute of an adjacent placed object; and drawing, by agraphics processor for displaying a placed object on a display screen,according to any one of the first display mode and the second displaymode.